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Sunday, April 6, 2014

Program Lends Helping Hand During Tax Season

With the tax deadline looming many of us are feeling the pressure to file, and help is available for some in the form of a free tax clinic.  

Ashley Clarke of the Canada Revenue Agency tells CHSJ News the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program is for those with a modest income and a simple tax situation. 

For a single person to be eligible they can't make more than $30,000 per year, it's $40,000 for a couple and $35,000 for an adult with a child, however according to Clarke those numbers can vary slightly from place to place.

Clarke says seniors, students and social assistance recipients use the service, among others. You can see a list of clinics taking place in Saint John by clicking here

For more information, call 1-800-959-8281.

Campaign Encourages Dialogue Between Doctors & Patients

The lines of communications between doctors and patients are opening up around the province. 

New Brunswick physicians teaming up with the Canadian Medical Association to help launch Choosing Wisely Canada, a campaign that aims to start conversations within the health care system.

Doctor Camille Haddad works in Miramichi and he tells CHSJ News the point is to get everyone on the same page. He says when you explain to a patient the rationale behind the treatment being ordered, the patient will not only be appreciative but will put in extra effort to be involved in their own care.

President of the Specialty Section of the New Brunswick Medical Society Dr. Liam Hickey says they are pleased to be leading the work nationwide.

IBC Keeping An Eye On Severe Weather

Severe weather seems to be the norm 365 days a year no matter where you live but getting home insurance will not be a problem in New Brunswick.
 

Amanda Dean of the Insurance Bureau of Canada tells CHSJ News while people can still shop around that doesn't mean that the industry isn't concerned about it.

She says it's one of the things where claims drive premiums so if these types of weather-related claims continue premiums may keep going up but that is not necessarily helpful for insurance companies or for consumers. 


For more information, click here

More Wild Weather On The Way

Brace yourselves, because another storm is coming our way.

Environment Canada issuing a special weather statement for the region, describing a low pressure system that will track eastward along the St. Lawrence River Valley on Tuesday. 

Meteorologist Paula Sutherland says we're looking at winds gusting to 90 kilometres an hour and up to 50 millimetres of rain. She says temperatures says will reach between six to 10 degrees on Tuesday so there's the potential for major snow melt.

Most of the rain will fall mid-afternoon on Tuesday into the evening and we could see some lingering showers on Wednesday morning as the storm moves out.